A batch of upgraded Su-57 multirole fighters has been delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), marking the first transfer of fifth-generation combat aircraft in 2026. The aircraft were manufactured at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnAAZ), completed a full cycle of factory acceptance trials, and were formally accepted by customer representatives with the participation of VKS test pilots, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said.
During the acceptance process, the aircraft conducted flights across multiple operating regimes to verify onboard systems and the integrated weapons control suite. Following these trials, the fighters were cleared for operational service with frontline units.
UAC did not disclose the exact number of Su-57s delivered and declined to specify how many aircraft were transferred on February 9, describing the batch only as “substantial.” No Su-57 deliveries to the VKS were reported in 2025, while three separate batches were handed over in 2024. Based on aggregated delivery data, the total number of Su-57s in service as of early 2026 is estimated at approximately 30 aircraft.
“Our aircraft plants are meeting their delivery commitments to the armed forces on schedule and in full,” said Sergei Chemezov, CEO of state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec. “At the same time, this is not a matter of mass production alone. The aircraft continue to evolve, reflecting customer requirements and real-world combat employment.”
The absence of Su-57 deliveries in 2025 is widely attributed to the fighter’s ongoing modernization program. The updated configuration includes enhancements to avionics and the weapons management system, as well as integration work to enable the use of new air-launched munitions carried in internal weapons bays and on external hardpoints within the approved payload envelope.
“The aircraft has already demonstrated solid performance during the special military operation,” a VKS Su-57 pilot said. “The new configuration expands the mission set assigned to this platform. The growth potential built into the weapons suite enables the employment of next-generation air-to-surface and air-to-air munitions.”
Specific weapon types and the scope of onboard systems upgrades have not been officially disclosed.
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